Trying something new

[NYBowhunter71]

I recent got a Benelli Super Nova, and I am interested in trying Pheasant hunting this fall. I do not have a dog and I don't really like the setup at the "pheasant clubs" in the area. What would be the best way for me to get into the sport?

[Tominator]

Are you hunting pen birds, or wild ones?

Pen birds will be considerably easier than wild birds. Wild birds tend to run more than the pen raised birds.

Hunting pheasant alone with no dog is pretty challenging, especially if they are wild birds.

Personally, I wait for a snow and then try to track a bird. It's about as successful as any tactic I've used if I'm alone. If you have a couple buddies, you'll want to post a couple buddies at the end of likely cover, then you drive the cover and see what happens. If there are any birds in the cover they will likely try to run out every which way, but hopefully you'll get a few to flush. There's a saying when driving pheasants "the last ten yards" are the most important. Don't let your guard down, and be ready.

Good luck!

[huntinguide]

"TOM" in my expierence with pen raised birds the tend to run more than wild birds even in quail.

[NYBowhunter71]

I want to hunt mostly wild birds, I don't think I like "hunting" pen birds. It isn't really hunting

[Guest beagleman]

Start looking for some fellow pheasant hunters maybe you can find one that has a dog or two and will let you come along. Never know might end up with a dog that way. A few years back my dad had a german shorthair pup gave to him. Dogs not the greatest pointer in the world but she'll point a bird. Heck for that fact, get you a beagle. We have 2 beagles right now that loves to flush wild quail. Id bet you they'd flush a wild pheasant to if we had any in our neck of the woods. And the other advantage of a beagle is its the do-it-all gundog. Ive known some that will do the obvious run rabbits, the above mentioned, plus tree squirels and coons and even heard my grandpa talk of one he use to have that would run fox's.

Just a suggestion.

[WaCoyote]

I've hunted pheasants my whole life with dogs. I grew up listening to my dad and friends calling people who hunt without dogs idiots because hunting pheasants without a dog is not only stupid, it's impossible.

Well my old lab is def now so I can't take him with me and I hunt without a dog. I do just as well without a dog as I did with one. The pheasants act different when your without a dog. They don't run near as much so they tend to give closer shots. I love it, it adds a new wrinkle to the game.

Where a dog really shines is in very thick cover, and finding a wounded runners or just dead birds for that matter. Dogs can be a real benefit but I'm done with dogs until the kids are older so I'll continue chasing them roosters without one.

What you'll need to do is "pinch" them. You need to work cover without escape routes. Work thick draws in a Zig Zag pattern slowly. Stop a lot and listen you can hear them rustling the brush. Work the draw towards a tilled field or something that will not allow them to escape without being seen. They'll run to the end and stop until you get close enough to make them nervous. Basically the goal is to push the birds to the end of cover and "pinch" them. Good luck, it can be done and it's a lot of fun.

P.S.

Wild birds run waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than pen raised birds. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more. All you have to do is watch those hunting shows to see that. They hunt pen birds on ranches and basically kick them out at there feet. Wild birds only act like that in deep snow or maybe opening weekend. Nothing wrong with it I'm only saying that wild birds are far different than pen birds.

[Tominator]

P.S.

Wild birds run waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than pen raised birds. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more. All you have to do is watch those hunting shows to see that. They hunt pen birds on ranches and basically kick them out at there feet. Wild birds only act like that in deep snow or maybe opening weekend. Nothing wrong with it I'm only saying that wild birds are far different than pen birds.

Thanks for the backup. That's been my experience too.

[buckee]

There's a saying when driving pheasants "the last ten yards" are the most important. Don't let your guard down, and be ready.

Yep You could push a hedge row or bunch of brush and not see a thing, until those last few yards at the end. The birds usually hold up, right at the edge of cover until they are flushed.

Here's a good article

http://www.fishandgame.com/2004articles/100104dualrole.htm